SAINT JOHN – As recent graduates continue to make plans for their future, many of those plans include a one-way ticket to Western Canada — in particular Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Josh Tobias, a recent graduate from the New Brunswick Community College Fuels Technician program, may soon be one of those on the move.
Tobias said he wants to stay in Saint John, where he’s currently working for the Parks and Recreation Dept., but if he can’t find anything a little better paying he’ll have no choice but to move.
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He said he feels like he’s wasted two years of his life, to have no hope of finding work near his friends and family.
The New Brunswick government has introduced a number of initiatives over the years to curb this trend.
But, a recent Statistics Canada report shows New Brunswick’s population has declined for third straight quarter.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is also concerned about the westward migration.
The organization’s Atlantic Director Kevin Lacey said the recent provincial income tax hike may drive even more residents out.
But, there are some New Brunswickers that are holding out hope for the approval of an eastern pipeline.
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That would create thousands of jobs and plenty of spin off jobs, as well but the bottom line is the workers have to be here ready for this.
“New Brunswick cannot be an economic engine of growth if all its workers are leaving for Alberta. we have opportunities with gas under our feet and a pipeline coming from western Canada,” Lacey said. “We can’t blow it by letting workers that can take advantage of these opportunities move west.”
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